Question.1261 - StoryMap Outline Veeru KunapareddyDearborn University GEOG 306 001 Professor Dr. Claudia Walters March 16th, 2024 StoryMap Outline Story Map URL: https://arcg.is/1jTaDS0 Topic: From Forest to Fragmented: Wildfire's Impact on Connectivity in North American Boreal Forests 1. Introduction: The Boreal Lifeline Briefly introduce North American boreal forests, highlighting their vast territory and ecological significance. Accentuate the role in carbon storage in terms of how it supports biodiversity including water regulation. Mention the importance of habitat connectivity for wildlife movement, gene flow, and overall ecosystem health. 2. The Rising Threat: Wildfires and Fragmentation The research intends to assess the causes of the frequency and severity increase of wildfires in boreal forests. Utilize data and graphs to illustrate trends (reference sources 1 & 2). Explain how wildfires contribute to habitat fragmentation: Break up large contiguous habitat areas into smaller, isolated patches. Disrupt critical wildlife corridors used for migration and breeding. Include visuals like maps showing historical fire occurrences and potential habitat fragmentation (reference source 3). 3. A Multifaceted Challenge: Causes and Consequences Studying the interlink between climate change and increased fire risk in boreal forests (reference source 4). Reasons for rising temperatures leading to wildfires, droughts, exhausting groundwater, and altered precipitation patterns create drier conditions conducive to wildfires. Explore the role of human activities in exacerbating fire risk: Forest management practices (e.g., fire suppression leading to fuel buildup) (reference source 5). Resource extraction (e.g., logging roads creating fire breaks that fragment habitat) (reference source 6). Discuss the ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation on boreal forest wildlife: Population isolation: Reduced gene flow and potential inbreeding issues. Disrupted migration patterns: Difficulty reaching breeding grounds or food sources. Increased predation risk: Animals become more vulnerable in smaller habitat patches. Consider the potential long-term consequences of increased fire for the health and resilience of boreal forests (reference source 7). 4. Conclusion: A Path Forward Summarize the key findings on the threats wildfires pose to habitat connectivity in boreal forests. Potential solutions and mitigation strategies that have been successfully implemented across the globe with similar geographic setting:-Sustainable forest management practices (e.g., prescribed burns). Habitat restoration efforts to reconnect fragmented areas. Climate change mitigation strategies to reduce fire risk. End with a call to action for protecting these vital ecosystems. List of References (APA Style) 1) Stambaugh, M. C., Varner, J. M., & Jackson, S. T. (2017). Biogeography: an interweave of climate, fire, and humans. In?Ecological restoration and management of longleaf pine forests?(pp. 17-38). CRC Press. Timeframe:?Published in 2017, relatively recent and within the scope 40 years of range as layered in the storymap. Relevance:?Concerns pertaining to the impact of fire on ecosystems. Focuses on longleaf pine forests, not specifically boreal forests. Authority:?Authors appear to be researchers based on the book chapter format and publisher (CRC Press is a reputable academic publisher). Accuracy:??Accurate information is indirectly relevant to boreal forests due to similar geographic settings. Purpose:?Longleaf pine forest restoration tends to address the topic with identical geographic settings along with interventions utilized for restoration. 2) Lecina-Diaz, J., Mart?nez-Vilalta, J., Alvarez, A., Vayreda, J., & Retana, J. (2021). Assessing the risk of losing forest ecosystem services due to wildfires.?Ecosystems, 1-15. Timeframe:?Very recent (2021). Relevance:?Highly relevant, focuses on the risks wildfires pose to forest ecosystems, generally applicable to boreal forests. Authority:?Authors listed as researchers, published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Ecosystems). Accuracy:??Seems to be accurate based on publication type and recent date. Purpose:?Informative research paper on wildfire risk and ecosystem services. 3) ?Senici, D., Chen, H. Y., Bergeron, Y., & Ali, A. A. (2015). The effects of forest fuel connectivity on spatiotemporal dynamics of Holocene fire regimes in the central boreal forest of North America.?Journal of Quaternary Science,?30(4), 365-375. Timeframe:??2015 published - covers data from early 2000s.? Relevance:?Highly relevant in terms of fire regimes in the central boreal forest of North America and the role of forest fuels. Authority:?Authors listed as researchers, published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Journal of Quaternary Science). Accuracy:?It seems to be accurate based on the boreal forest dataset with a lot of quantitative datasets. Purpose:?Research paper on fire regimes and forest fuels in the boreal forest by covering datasets from the last the 10 years. 4) Boucher, Y., St-Laurent, M. H., & Grondin, P. (2011). Logging-induced edge and configuration of old-growth forest remnants in the eastern North American boreal forests.?Natural Areas Journal,?31(3), 300-306.? Timeframe:?Published in 2011, logging datasets from the early 2000s. Relevance:?It focuses on logging impacts on forest fragmentation, but not specifically wildfires; it aids in assessing the habitat cores. Authority:?Authors listed as researchers, published in a reputable journal (Natural Areas Journal). Accuracy:?Likely accurate based on publication type. Purpose:?Research paper on logging impacts on old-growth forest remnants. 5) Venier, L. A., Walton, R., Thompson, I. D., Arsenault, A., & Titus, B. D. (2018). A review of the intact forest landscape concept in the Canadian boreal forest: its history, value, and measurement.?Environmental Reviews,?26(4), 369-377. Timeframe:?2018. Relevance:?Highly relevant, focuses on the concept of intact forest landscapes in the Canadian boreal forest, which relates to habitat connectivity. Authority:?Authors listed as researchers, published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (Environmental Reviews). Accuracy:?Likely accurate based on publication type and focus on the Canadian boreal forest. Purpose:?Review paper on the concept of intact forest landscapes. 6)?Ruckstuhl, K. E., Johnson, E. A., & Miyanishi, K. (2008). Introduction. The boreal forest and global change.?Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,?363(1501), 2243-2247. Timeframe:?Published in 2008. Relevance:?Discusses the boreal forest and global change. Authority:?Published in a prestigious scientific journal (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B) which suggests a peer-reviewed process. Authors are likely researchers but further information is needed on their specific expertise. Accuracy:?Citations are included in a scientific journal article. Purpose:??Interlinking boreal forest with global change. 7) Riva, F., Pinzon, J., Acorn, J. H., & Nielsen, S. E. (2020). Composite effects of cutlines and wildfire result in fire refuges for plants and butterflies in boreal treed peatlands.?Ecosystems,?23(3), 485-497. Timeframe:?Published in 2020. Relevance:?Directly relevant. The study investigates the effects of wildfires on fragmentation in boreal peatlands, including potential refuges for plants and butterflies. Authority:?Published in a scientific journal (Ecosystems) suggesting a peer-reviewed process. Author information is needed to assess specific expertise in wildfire and connectivity. Accuracy:??Incorporates citations and references to support the study's findings. Purpose:?Reports about ecological effects of wildfires in boreal treed peatlands.

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